Why Mister Rogers Always Told Viewers He Was Feeding His Fish

Part of Fred Rogers’s daily routine on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was feeding his fish. After receiving a letter from a blind little girl, he started to verbally tell viewers when he fed them:

Dear Mister Rogers,

Please say when you are feeding your fish, because I worry about them. I can’t see if you are feeding them, so please say you are feeding them out loud.

Katie, age 5

Katie’s father noted that she really was so worried it would make her cry. Mister Rogers included Katie’s letter in an anthology of letters that he received from children. In it, he reflected:

Since hearing from Katie, I’ve tried to remember to mention out loud those times that I’m feeding the fish. Over the years, I’ve learned so much from children and their families. I like to think that we’ve all grown together.